Photoflash lamp



M. J. N. DE MARGITTA PHOTOFLASH LAMP Filed Jan. 26, 1940 cant-'mv mz :nu/72x femm/JM www Patented Apr. 14, 1942 PHOTOFLASH LAMP Michael J. Neumann de Margitta, New York, N. Y., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 26, 1940, Serial No. 315,743

(Cl. (S7-29) 4 Claims.

'I'his application is a continuation in part of Vmy prior applications for improvements in ilashlamps, Serial No. 298,276, led Oct. 6, 1939, and Serial No. 302,023, led Oct. 30, 1939.

The invention relates to photoilash lamps and especially to ilashlamps having partitioned sections.

An object of the invention is to provide a flashlamp capable of operating a camera shutter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ashlamp which is capable of variable duration and intensity of flash.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a view partly perspective and partly diagrammatic of a liashlamp, circuit, and apparatus for actuating a camera shutter.

Fig` 2 is a bottom ,View of the flashlamp of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view on line III--III of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view partly inelevation and partly diagrammatic of a ashlamp and circuit arrangement for various slow, medium and fast ignition times of the flashlamp.

Fig. 6 is a view on lines VI-VI of Fig. 5.

on lines IV-IV of As described in my Cfr-pending applications fr Serial No. 298,276, filed Oct. 6, 1939, and Serial No. 302,023, led Oct. 30, 1939, I construct a flashlamp from a plastic material, preferably cellulose acetate, although I may also use the transparent or translucent plastics of casein, pyroxylin, shellac or rubber. This plastic casing of the rlashlamp can be very thin, even of the order of .005 to .02 inch in thickness. The thinness of the plastic casing makes it ilexible under the pressure caused by the ignited combustible material in the presence of a combustion-supporting gas. This expansion of the casing occurs when the flashlamp is ashed, although the casing may collapse again when the `oxygen is consumed. The present application utilizes the property of this expanding casing in connection with a partitioned photoilash lamp.

In one particular application of this partitioned ilashlamp, -I contemplate utilizing a portion of the vilashlalnp for the purpose of opening the camera shutterv and then utilizing one or more portions of the flashlamp for thepurpose of i1- luminating the object to be photographed and for closing the camera shutter. All these steps are performed automatically after the lamp is ignited.

In Fig. l, I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my flashlamp comprising a container l0 of thin ilexible cellulose acetate, although other plastics may be utilized. This cellulose acetate is tough and does not need a special protective casing to preventpuncture of the container since the cellulose acetate can withstand careless handling and yet remain gas-tight. This lamp Il! is most conveniently formed into the thin oblong shape disclosed in the drawing.

The interior is filled with a combustible metal Il, such as a film or iine wires of aluminum or magnesium. A combustion-supporting gas, such as oxygen, also fills the container, preferably at atmospheric pressure, although this gas may be below or above atmospheric pressure.

The iiashlamp at one end is partitioned off by indentations i2 and I3, extending across the casing. In the preferred embodiment these partitions do not completely shut oi a preferably small compartment Il from the main body of the flashlamp, inasmuch as a small space I5 is left for the propagation of combustion of the ignited material il in compartment I4 to the combustible material in the main body. of the casing. The size of this small space I5 connecting the two compartments of the ilashlamp may be decreased or enlarged accordingly as a slower or more rapid propagation of combustion from one compartment to the other is desired.

The casing wall I6 is indented as at Il. Just inside this indented casing is an igniting device I3 composed of a filament coated with zirconium.

aluminum or phosphorous powder. The igniting device can have extended conductors I9 and 20 extending transversely to make Contact conveniently with two metal clips 2i and 22 fastened to opposite ends of this edge I6.

A portion of the main casing also has an indentation similar to the indentation Il previously described. While other parts of the casing may be selected, I have illustrated an indentation 23 at the central top portion of the main casing IU as illustrated in Fig. 4.

The camera lens and shutter mechanism 30 is too wel] known to need description. The shutter mechanism with its ilexible shaft 32 and an actuating plunger 33 is also well known standard equipment. This plunger 33 is connected in my preferred'embodiment to a movable armature 34 of a solenoid 25. This solenoid is connected to a battery'li which also has connections Il and 3l through a switch 38 to the contacts 2i and 22 connected to the conductors I9 and 20 of the igniting device I8.

The solenoid 35 is connected to a pivoted contact arm 49 having a projecting arm 4i more specically illustrated in Fig. 3, bearing against the indentation I1 in the side wall of the small compartment I4 of the iiashlamp. A contact point 42 is placed a slight distance from this contact arm 49 and has a connection 43 to a contact arm 44 that in turn has a depending arm 45 resting in the indented top portion 23 of the main portion of the iiashlamp. This contact arm 44, when the arm 45 is in the depression 23, makes connection having a contact point` 46 with a connection 41 extending to the battery 36.

It will be noted that the contact between the arm 40 and point 42 is normally open and the contact between arm 44 and point 46 is normally closed.

The automatic operation of the device in the circuit disclosed depends upon what I have discovered to be a slight time lag in the ignition of the small partitioned off compartment I4 of the iiashlamp and the ignition of the main body of the ashlamp therefrom, together with the expansible properties of the casing under the combustion of the enclosed material.

When the picture is ready to be taken, the switch 39 is closed. This switch ilashes the igniting means I8 and the combustible material inside the small compartment I4. The pressure exerted on the casing will expand the indented portion I1 to push outward on the arm 4I and throw the contact; arm 40 in contact with the contact point 42. vThis connection actuates the solenoid 35 to push up on the actuating wire 33 and open the shutter of the camera lens 30. The combustion of the material within the compartment I4 then passes through the small constriction I5 and iiashes the combustible material II in the main section of the iiashlamp. At the height of intensity of light created by the flashing of the main body of the iiashlamp, the pressure will also reach a maximum inside of the casing, and this pressure will push out the indentation 23 in the top part of the casing to push on the arm 45 and raise the lever 44 out of contact with the point 46. This breaking of the contact at the height of the iiash will L,

break the electrical contact to the solenoid 35, whereupon the plunger 34 will fall because of gravity or because of the force of a spring or other means against which the solenoid has actuated, and the shutter will close through the pull on the actuating wire 33. The camera shutter has accordingly been opened immediately before the maximum intensity of the flash of the flashlamp and has been closed immediately upon the ashlamps having reached its maximum of intensity. Various other types of connections, switches and actuating means can, of course, be utilized in place of some or all or in addition to those disclosed in the drawing.

A partitioned or sectionalized flashlamp has other advantages also. In Fig. 5 I have illustrated a conveniently formed ashlamp composed preferably of folded-over plastic casing 50, having two interior partitions 5I and 52, extending from opposite edges to divide the flashlamp into three compartments 53, 54 and 55 interconnected by small passageways 56 and 51. These partitions may7 -be similar to I2 and I3 in Fig. 3 but the intervening space I5 may be eliminated. Mica or other insulation spacers 1I) might be CII used pinched by the wall of the casing as illustrated in Fig. 6. These compartments are, of course, filled with the combustible material 58 previously described and a combustion supporting gas such as oxygen also is present in the container.

An igniting device is preferably present in each of the three compartments. In compartment 53 the igniting device 59 has its two connections 60 and 6I extending to the adjoining edge of the lamp where they are clamped between the metal clamps 62 and 63, which serve the double purpose of -providing contacts and sealing the side of the casing. The igniting device 64 likewise has its connections 65 and 66 between two metal clamps 61 and 68 on the bottom edge of the casing. The igniting device 69 in section has its connections 10 and 1I extending to the adjoining edge of the lamp where they are clamped between two metal clamps 12 and 13. The igniting devices are preferably arranged in combination with the partitions so that a straight line may not be drawn through any lgniting device and the three compartments without intersecting a partition. This arrangement will prevent one device from simultaneously ashing all compartments. The battery 14 has one of its poles connected to one each of the pairs of exterior contacts to the igniting devices of the three compartments, such as the exterior contacts 62, 61 and 12. The other pole of the battery 14 is connected through a switch 15 to a movable contact arm 16 having an arcuate con- 4tact bar 11 capable of making one, two or three contacts on its periphery.

The rst contact 18 in the path of movement of this movable bar 11 is connected with the exterior contact 63 to the igniting means 59 of the compartment 53. The second contact 19 in the path of the movable bar 11 is to the exterior contact 68 of the igniting means 64 in the middle compartment; 54. The third contact 80 in the path of the movable bar 11 is connected to the exterior contact 13 of the igniting means 69 in the third compartment 55.

With the connection of the bar 11 to the contact arnr 18 as disclosed in full lines in the Fig. 5,

' when the switch 15 is closed, the igniting means 59 only will be actuated by this electrical contact. This igniting means 59 will ilash the combustible material in the compartment 53 and then this iiashing material will flash in turn the combustible material 54 when it works through the restricted connection 56. The combustion will then work through the constriction 51 t0 iiash the remaining compartment 55. There will accordingly be a continuous progress of the flashing of the material from the rst compartment through the second and into the third. The flashing will accordingly be slow but prolonged due to the meandering path through the various compartments. The connection 18 can accordingly belabelled slow to indicate the c longer time consumed in ilashing the lamp.

If the contact arm 16 and its bar 11 are moved to make contact with all the points 18, 19 and 80, as indicated in dotted lines, then upon the closing of the switch 15, all of the igniting means 59, 64 and 69 in the three compartments will be actuated at once and the whole casing of the ilashlamp will be immediately ashed. The result will be a continuous, very fast, but short flashing of the photolamp. This position of the bar 11 in contact with the point 80 and the points 18 and 19 can be labelled Fast.

' partitioned sections therein.

If the contact arm is moved so that the bar 11 has contact only with 1I and 19, then only two of the' igniting means 59 and 64 will be energized and the compartment 55 will be flashed when the combustion works through the restricted passageway 51 from the compartment 54. This flashing will not be as fast as when all the igniting means were energized, but it will be faster than when only the one igniting means 59 is actuated. This connecting point Ill can accordingly be labelled Medium.

The number of compartments, the size, nature of the partitions and the number of igniting means, etc., can be varied as desired.

I have accordingly disclosed particularly advantageous uses of the photoflash lamp with Many other uses may also be possible with the sectionalized flashlamp. Various modifications may obviously be made in the particular form of the ilashlamp and also in the connections made thereto. Ac-

l cordingly, I desire only such limitations to be imposed upon my invention as are necessitated by the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim: l. A ashlamp comprising an exterior casing from the group of plastics of cellulose acetate, casein, pyroxylin, shellac and rubber, combustible material in said casing, and a pair of partitions of which each partition is attached to one casing wall opposite from another wall to which the other partition is attached and leaves a gap between itself and the said opposite wall thereby dividing said casing into a plurality of inter- .material in each of the compartments, and means for igniting the combustible material in one compartment 'before that in another compartment whereby the portion of the expansible casing about said compartment expands before another portion, and a switch having operative contact with said first mentioned portion whereby said switch is actuated in response to said expansion.

3. A flashlamp comprising a casing having expansible and intercommunicating compartments, combustible material therein, and means for igniting the-combustible material in one compartment before that in another compartment whereby one compartment expands before another compartment, and means connected to the first mentioned expanding compartment of the casing for opening a camera shutter.

4. A flashlamp comprising a flexible casing having expansible and intercommunicating compartments, combustible material therein, and means for igniting the combustible material of one compartment before that of the other compartment, whereby one portion of the flexible casing expands before another portion, and means responsive to the expansion of the first mentioned compartment for opening a camera shutter, and means responsive to the expansion of the other mentioned compartment for closing the camera shutter.

MICHAEL J. NEUMANN DE MARGITT. 

